COMMON NIGHT-HERON. 
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times on trees at a very great height, and, in the low 
islands, on the mangrove trees that overhang the 
water. The birds are described as extremely noisy 
and watchful, their sense of hearing being particularly 
acute ; at the same time, they are easily procured 
by lying in watch, and shooting the birds as they 
come into their nests or to roost. The nests are of 
considerable size, and are constructed of sticks and 
roots ; the eggs are of the pale bluish-green common 
to the greater part of the Ard-eadw. The young are 
esteemed, as food, equal to young pigeons, and seem 
to be sought after both by man and the rapacious 
birds, which collect around the breeding stations for 
the supply which is at this season there furnished.* 
If we consider the American specimens to be dis- 
tinct, the range of the British bird will be restricted 
to Europe, Africa, and parts of India ; also Japan.t 
The back of the neck, wings, rump, and tail, are 
of a fine pearl grey, palest on the back of the neck ; 
the forehead, cheeks, throat, and under parts, pure 
white ; the crown of the head and nape, with the 
upper patt of the back and mantle, are of a rich 
glossy greenish-black, the feathers on the centre of 
the back being rather long, and having their webs 
unconnected, as in the true Herons ; and, from the 
occiput, springs a beautiful adornment of gene- 
rally three pure white narrow feathers, which reach 
to the back. The bill is black ; the legs greenish- 
yellow, appearing of a clearer colour as the bird 
attains maturity. In the young bird, represented 
* Wilson, Audubon. + Temminck. 
